Coupler operating device



Sept. 12, 1933. A. E. SMALL 1,926,118

COUPLER OPERATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 12, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E811, tor

Arthur E ismll A if 01718 Sept. 12, 1933. A. E. SMALL COUPLER OPERATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 12, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jzzvenzior Qri/Lur E Small Fig-8 U Aiorney Patented Sept. 12, 1933 UlTED STATES COUPLER OPERATING DEVICE Arthur E. Small, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Union Metal Products Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application December 12, 1931. Serial No. 580,587

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for operating a railway car coupler having a pivoted knuckle provided with a tail engageable with a knuckle lock to which such device is operatively connected. The invention relates specifically to a railway car coupler having an anti-creep feature which is so formed that thelock can be raised to an unlocked position by the operating device, but cannot be raised by the creeping action of the lock due to the service movements of the car. Some of such couplers are provided with a member mounted upon the coupler head for transmitting operating movement to the lock, and operable by the rota-- tion of an operating rod attached thereto.

An object of the invention is to provide an operating rod for such a coupler having a shank which is so formed and associated with parts of the car or preferably a bracket mounted on the 12.0 car so as to stabilize the rod by gravity against a swinging movement of the handle of the operating rod which causes a rotative movement thereof which would release the coupler anticreep feature. A further object is to positively restrict the swinging movement of the handle toward the car which by pendulum action would cause a swinging movement of the handle away from the car.

This objectionable swinging movement of the handle is caused by the irregular movements of the train in service, particularly the quick variations in the speed of the train.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show a typical application of my device to a railway car coupler.

Figs. 1, 5 and 6 show the relation of the operating rod and its supporting bracket when in normal position.

Fig. 7 shows the relation of the operating rod and the bracket when the operating rod is in extreme rotated position during operation thereof.

Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive show a modified construction.

The car coupler 2 is resiliently mounted on the car and arranged to move longitudinally and August 16, 1927, which coupler is not only typical as showing the relation of the knuckle and the lock, but also shows the member 3 rotatably mounted on the coupler for transmitting the operating movements to the lock which comprises a substantially horizontally disposed eye 4 for reception of a hook 5 on the operating rod 6 whereby rotation of the rod rotates the rotor member and operates the coupler.

The coupler shown in Patent No. 1,639,300 of August 16, 1927, also illustrates a typical coupler anti-creep feature wherein the lower part of the knuckle lock is provided with an obliquely positioned slot which is engaged by the operating mechanism. The coupler head is provided with a projection which is so positioned that a part of the operating mechanism engages it and prevents the lock from creeping upwardly. When the operating rod is rotated the same part of the operating mechanism moves upwardly until it engages the upper part of the obliquely positioned slot, in which position it is free to pass the projection on the coupler head and raise the coupler lock.

In the preferred form of thedevice shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive the operating rod shank 6 rests upon a bracket 7 which is disposed upon the car body 8 and is provided with a bearing 10 and a substantially horizontal slot 11 at one side thereof and a substantially vertical guide 12 at the other side of the bearing 10., The operating rod is provided with a depending handle 14 adjacent the side of the car for easy operation by the trainmen. The operating rod normally rests upon the bearing 10 and is provided with a projection or laterally extending eccentric part 16 extending toward the car which projects within the slot 11 when the device is in normal position. The operating rod 16 is then adjacent the guide 12, the width of the bearing 10 and the slot 11 being only slightly larger thanthe width of the rod 6 and the eccentric part 16. In this position the swinging movement of the handle 14 toward the car is positively restricted by the slot and the swinging movement of the handle away from the car is restricted by gravity only.

When the handle 14 is swung outwardly by the trainman to operate the car coupler the weight of the outer portion of the rod is shifted entirely to said part 16 and to the bearing 10 upon the bracket 7 whereby as soon as the operator releases the handle the gravitational force of the rod tends to return it to its normal position so that the rod is stabilized against a rotative movement. The guide 12 directs the eccentric part 16 into the slot 11 when the operating rod 6 is returning to normal position. If the handle was permitted to swing into one direction it would develop an inertia force which would swing the handle in the opposite direction, therefore, it is preferable to provide means to stabilize the rod in either direction.

Gil

rated flange 23. At the other side of the bearing is another upstanding wall provided with the slot 11 and also an outwardly curved part 26 terminating in a preferably perforated flange 27 with the perforations insaid flangesregistering to accommodate retaining 'means, such as the spring cotters 29.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show a modified construction wherein the operating rod 40 is flattened and passes through a separate member 41 to form a loose non-rotatable connection thereviith' The bracket 42 comprises spaced apart bearings 43 44 which support the operating rod 40 on oppo site sides of the separate member 41 so that the member does not move sidewise of the car with the service movements of the operating rod. The sides of the bearings are beveled to allow the inner end of the operating rod to move longitudinally of the car with the coupler. The end 46 of the separate member 41 engages a slot 47 in the bracket so as to restrict the swinging movefent of the handle toward the car. The bracket is provided with guides 5051to direct the operating rod (and the member connected thereto) back to normal position (as shown in Fig. 8). These guides also keep theend 460i the separate member in engagement with the slot 47. Fig, 8 shows the modified device in normal position, as Fig. 11 shows it in full operated position. The cotter pin 54retains the component parts in proper relationto each other. The end 46 of the member 41 is formed in the shape of a trunnion to increase its'bearing area and the slot 47 forms a journal bearing therefor.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form ofythe'invention, though-it is to be understood that the. invention isnot limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that: various modifications thereof, within the scope of the claims, will occur to persons skilled in the, art..

.Iclaim: c

15111 a railway car,.an operating means for use with a railway car coupler having a .member arranged to operatetheicoupler upon rotation of an operating rod,-.said means comprising an operating rod havingga'shank with its inner-end operatively connected to said member and provided with a handle adjacent its outer end, said shank provided with apart eccentric from the axis ofthe shank, and a bracket mounted upon the car provided with a bearingwith a substantially horizontal slot-at one side of the bearing and a guide at the 'otherside of said bearing, said shank normally resting upon said bearing with said part Within said slot and with said shank adjacent said guide so as to-retain the said part within said "slot, ,whereby the swinging movement of the handle toward the car is restricted by the slot and whereby upon rotation of the operating rod theiweightof the outer portion of the rod is shifted entirely to said part and to the bearing of said bracket sothat upon release the operating rod returns to normal position by gravity and the guide directs said part into said slot.

2. In a railway car, an operating means for use with a railway car coupler having a member arranged to operate the coupler upon rotation of an operating rod, said means comprising an operating rod having a shank with its inner end operatively connected to' said member and provided with a handle adjacent its outer end, said shank provided with a part eccentric from the axis of the shank, a bracket mounted upon the car provided'with a bearing. said shank in normal position resting upon said bearing with said part engaging-the bearing between the rod and the car, whereby'upon rotation of the operating rod the weight of the outer portion of the rod is shifted entirely to said part and to the bearing means'adjacent the inner side of said bearing to restrict the upward movement of said part when the rod is in normal position, whereby the swinging movement of the handle toward'the car is restricted and means to retain said part in engagement with the first mentioned means when the device is in normal position.

7 3. As an article of manufacture, a bracket for an operating rod for a railway car coupler comprising a substantially flat horizontal'bearing, a substantially horizontal slot adjacent the rear of said bearing, and a guide adjacent the front of said bearing to guide an operating rod into said slot.

In a railway car, an operating means for use with a car coupler having a member arranged to operate the coupler upon rotation of an operating rod, said means comprising an operating rod having a shank with its inner end operatively connected to said member and provided with a handle adjacent its outer end, and a bracket mounted upon the, car provided with a bearing, said shank provided with'an eccentric part engaging said bearing so that a swinging movement of the handle away from the car raises said operating rod thuscausing a tendency for the rod toreturn to normal position by gravity, said bracket provided with means adjacent the inner side of said bearing to engage said part to positively prevent a swinging movement of the handle toward thecar when the device is in normal position, and means to retain said part in engagement with the first mentioned means.

5. In a railway car, an operating means for use with a car coupler having a member arranged to operate the coupler upon rotation of an operating rod, said means comprising an operating rod having a shank with its inner end operatively connected to saidmember and provided with a handle adjacent its outer end, and a bracket mounted upon the car provided with a bearing, said shank provided with an eccentric part engaging said bearing so that a swinging movement of the handle away from the car raises said operating rod'thus causing a tendency for the rod to return to normal position by gravity, said bracket provided with means adjacent the inner side of said bearing to'engage ,said part to positively prevent a swinging movement of the handle toward the car when the device is in normal position, said bracket also provided with a guide to direct said part into engagement with said means and retain it therein.

- ARTHUR E. SMALL. 

